The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-29
PAWNBROKERS.
ODD THINGS STORED AWAY IN
THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS.
Interesting Talk with an Uncle
seaiskins Pledged for Safe
heeping-A Live Horse
Taken in Pawn.

hecping-A Live Horse
Taken in Pawn.
Yes, said the pawnbroker. 'T'm in
The safe is locked, and I'm in the bacl
room. Come in.
The reporter accepted the invitation
cast a brief glance at the rings auC
watches, the curious coins. the fractiona
currency, and miscellaneous array of val
uables IN the show cases; noticed thai
guns, clocks, hanjos, and variety Of
musical instruments were the ornament,
upon the wall, and then passing through
the boK-like apartment in which Tho
seeker after funds stands while the secur.
ity is under examination, entered the
back room, He found the person he was
in search Of doing up packages, and on en-
tering was greeted with: "Well, here
you are in the curiosity shop how dc
you like til" 1t was indeed curiosity
shop In one corner heap Of guns,
apparently worth their weight for old
metal, were partly masked by an immense
pile Of women's dresses, hung one over
the other in some mysterious manner;
two shelves were piled with overcosts,
three with valises and travelling bag, and
several Others with paper parcels, each
bearing a number. On other shelves were
musical instruments Of every variety.
kind, and quality, alternating with clocks,
ornaments, and articles for the beautif-
cation Of house
These" said the pawobroker. fare
sllcssas rl.s.l. $3.50.
properly, but they ali have a positive
value.
''How about the dresses
"S0me Of those dresses are very valu-
able. For instance this plush is daisy.
1t never cost less than $125. The owner
will redeem it before she'll let her hus-
band know where II is. Look at this
chest Here's n sealskin dolman that
cost $500, and / have loaned so little on
il that the owner can't afford TO for
felt it."
II should think you would like to have
it left on your hands"
'.No, indeed; what we want is prompt
redemption, and then we nun no risks of
bad bargains, and we turn our money the
faster
HOh, 10 be sure, the interests the
thing, and suppose you bleed them all
alikef"
Now, that shows how badly you are
mistaken. We have a regular rate Of in
terest which is fixed by law, and we
charge that to those who can pay. But
here, look at that shelf; there is not an
article on that shelf that pays interest"
what do you meant
Those articles have all been pawned
by poor people who can have them back
whenever they repay the amounts loaned
on them without interest. You wouldn't
believe pawnbroker could have so much
pity, but could show you our contracts
TO that effect if all such matters were not
sacredly confidential
you've some strange pledges here,
have you mott"
YES. Those things that are forfeited
/ will show YOU
ANY number of articles were shown,
the first being a solid silver presentation
goblet, once the property of lady be-
longing to one of the old families of the
city, names, dates and all of the other
particulars being handsomely engraved.
Next came a gold-headed cane presented
by friends TO once noted but now dis
graced man. Half a dozen medals,
awarded by the British Government TO
soldiers for valiant conduct, were heaped
and represented battles in Spain,
in India, in Africa, and for the field of
Waterloo, land some Of them. T" said the
exhiDltcr, ''seIe P-.~neo ~, Saa s--s.- 49,,
were in tears"
" Look behind you" said the pawn
broker, there is a clerionette that has
a history. 1t has been pawned and re-
deemed here a dozen times, but it came
once too often and it was forfeited. The
poor fellow who owned it comes in every
few days, looks at it, once in awhile asks
TO handle it, and then goes away hoping
10 be able to repurehase it in the near
future II l should sell it l believe it
would almost break his heart.
Now, here is something else; this
watch charm. as the engraving indicates,
was presented to one Of the heirs of one of
the largest fortunes ever left by De
.7oiter. His career was blazing one,
but he burned out very quickly This
antique silver bracelet was left here BY an
who said he was an employee
in the Bank Of England. He left most
Il not all, Of his valuables with US, and !
finally induced US to let him have a trif1e
On that battered old sole leather portnj fan
teau over there. 90
Here is violin that has been he,s-.rtliT
some Of the most aristocratic homes IN De- |
iroit. Its former owner was son of and |
partner in tine business with one Of the old |
merchants, but his convivial habits got |
he better Of him and even his violin is
gone. There's no use in my showing you |
my more of these things, but will sur
prise you little when tell you that we
,ctually have taken a live horse in pawn.
We do a sort Of a summer storage bust
ness. if it can SO be called. As soon as the
weather begins 10 grow warmer sealskin
garments Of all kinds will be brought to
IS in great quantities, and but small ad
RANGES viii be asked upon them. They
will be left until autumn and then will be
redeemed. Many ladies' think this the
cheapest way Of caring for their most ex-
Densive articles"
do you lose much on depreciation of
raluel''
I'VE Try to avoid that as much as posi-
Die, and as a rule succeed. Still we have
articles which have become almost value
ess while in their owners hands. Look
II this set of pearls. They cost when new
i25O. We would be glad to get s25 for
Ihczn, and we lent less than that. DE
not Free Press.
A Steam Wagon.
The last trial Of the steam wagon, IN